"How can he want everybody to be happy, when he makes them so unhappy?"
"He?—the Lord? He don't make nobody unhappy, child. How did that git in your head?"
"Well, it comes to the same thing, Mother Bartlett. He lets things happen."
"He hain't chained up Satan yet, if that's what you mean. But Satan can't do no harm to the Lord's children. He's tried, often enough, but the Lord won't let him."
"But, Mother Bartlett, that's only a way of talking. I don't know if it is Satan does it, but every sort of terrible thing comes to them. How can you say it's not evil?"
"'Cause the good Lord turns it to blessing, dear. Or if he don't, it's 'cause they won't let him. O' course it is Satan does it—Satan and his ministers. 'Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' How should he be kind to-day and unkind to-morrow?"
Diana could not trust her voice and was silent. The old woman looked at her, and said in a changed tone presently,
"What's come to you, Diana Masters? You had ought to be the happiest woman there is livin'."
Diana could not answer.
"Ain't you, dear?" Mrs. Bartlett added tenderly.